Fire extinguisher

AFFF was designed for burning liquid fires, it forms a film over the burning liquid, to stop the liquid giving off the gas, which is in fact burning, it was not designed for general fire use, it is also very, very messy, you can hoover up powder, but not foam!
 
Halon is banned, correct, but not it's replacement, stuff which is just as effective against fire, but doesnt damage the ozone layer and does not make a mess. Foam will not do your engine any good either, but halon replacement in your engine space is the best extinguishant. Just dont be in the engine compartment when it goes off, in fact you shouldnt be openeing up an on fire engine space anyway, unless you want to burn the whole lot down! Here on the rig we have AFF, but only in a monitor on the helideck, for use against burning liquid fires, (which is was designed for). One other point, how is the foam ejected from a hand held extiguisher, CO2 pherhaps?? By the way, I'm not interested in IMHO, I am only stating what is reccomended, by Navy, merchant navy, rigs, lloyds and norske veritas, this is not IMHO. But I know what iuse and have practiced with.
 
We were recommended to have several smaller extinguishers as well and keep a bigger dry powder one in the cockpit locker. We have 2 x 2 Kg CO2 and a fire blanket below plus the dry powder in the locker.
But how long do they last? What servicing is required?
 
You should remove them from the bracket once every three months, shake to make sure the powder is loose. Service/check every year. CO2 dont need shaking, just the pressure gauge checking, then serviced yearly.
 
Please can you explain this a little more? Is AFFF the only "type" of foam extinguisher? I understand the clear difference between dry powder and foam (you explain that well elsewhere) but I'm not clear if there is AFFF foam (designed for burning liquid fires) and "ordinary foam". I'd be grateful for further explanation. Thanks. rob
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top